Alumni News

Bringing families together is a concept that dates back to the very first Thanksgiving. This past Nov. 23, an inaugural community garden event, “Plantsgiving Thanksgiving,” was co-hosted by the Dept. of Family and Consumer Affairs and CTAHR’s Family Education Centers of Hawaii, Inc.

In 1962, Catherine Cavaletto moved to Hawaiʻi to take a job as a research assistant in the Dept. of Food Science and Technology. What was meant to last only a few years turned into a 41-year career at CTAHR, where Catherine became a horticulturist, professor, department chair, and associate dean of the college.

Exciting is an understatement for the news in Dr. Cheng-Sheng Lee’s recent letter. He began by expressing his gratitude for the staff and those who support the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture (CTSA).

Cara Yoshimi's original design was showcased in the design exhibition at the ITAA conference, after a rigorous double-blind peer review process (photo right).  The accepted designs showcase innovations using industry design software and zero-waste design methods, including upcycling and recycling garments and fabrics. Cara’s design was made from a kimono donated by the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii (JCCH) and reimagined as "Re. Doll Haus XY," inspired by a specific Gothic Lolita genre that elements into masculinity and femininity within a single look with garments that have ninja (a type of spy-like warrior during the Samurai age) concept. Cara was mentored by Minako McCarthy.  Congratulations, Cara! 

 Dr. Ju-Young Kang and Dr. Shu Hwa Lin of the FDM program won the Paper of Distinction award for the culture track at the 2022 annual ITAA conference for their paper entitled “3D Virtual Technology in Costume Museum Exhibition: Qing Dynasty.” This project aimed to create a digital costume museum platform that incorporated 3D virtual technology. This project was based on the authentic costumes at the UH historic costume museum. Our UH historic costume museum is one of Hawaii's largest historical and ethnographic costumes and textile collections. We will continue to develop a 3D platform for diverse collections of the UH costume museum. To learn more UHM Costume Collection, watch a video. This is Dr. Kang's third Paper of Distinction award since she’s been at the CTAHR/UH—she previously won this award in 2014 and 2017 (consumer behavior track) at the ITAA conference. Also, this is Dr. Lin’s second Paper. of Distinction award —she previously won this award in 2020 (sustainability/social responsibility track) at ITAA. Congratulations!